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Broken window repair for cracked and smashed panes
One cracked pane does not mean a new window. We take out the broken glass, clean the frame back and fit a new pane with fresh putty or beading.
- Open 24 hours, every day
- Homes and businesses
- Fully insured
- Photos for your insurer
What broken window repair is and which windows it suits
Broken window repair is the replacement of a single cracked or smashed pane in an existing frame. The frame stays where it is and only the glass is changed.
It suits single glazed windows in timber or metal frames. That includes sash windows, casements and small panes divided by glazing bars. The glass is held in with putty or with beads, and both are renewed as part of the job.
Sealed units are a different job. If your window has two panes with a gap between them, see double glazed unit replacement. For glass in a door, go to door glass replacement.
If the pane has fallen out and the window is open to the street, we can cover it first with window boarding. Out of hours breaks come through our emergency glazing call-out, and the repair follows from there.
What the repair involves
- The broken pane is taken out
- Old putty or beads are removed
- A new pane is fitted to the frame
- Broken glass is cleared and taken away
Ask for a broken window repair quote
Send a picture of the window and say what the frame is made of. We will come back with a price for the repair.
Prefer to talk? Call 0808 135 0137.
What broken window repair includes
Taking out the old pane
- Cracked or smashed glass removed by hand
- Old putty chiselled out of the frame
- Old pins and clips taken out
- Beads eased off where the glass is beaded
- Rebate cleaned back ready for new glass
- Frame checked for rot or rust
- Opening measured for the new pane
- Broken glass taken away
Fitting the new pane
- Glass supplied to the measured size
- Pane bedded into the frame
- Held with new pins or clips
- Fresh putty run and smoothed
- Beads refitted on beaded windows
- Panes in sash and casement windows
- Small panes between glazing bars
- Photos and an itemised invoice for insurers
What broken window repair costs
Panes come in every size, so we do not publish a fixed price list. Four details go into the quote.
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Size of the pane
A small pane between glazing bars costs less than a full sash. -
Kind of glass
Plain, patterned and safety glass do not cost the same. -
Frame and fixing
Putty in timber, putty in metal and beaded frames each take a different amount of work. -
Where the window is
An upstairs window or one over a conservatory takes longer to reach.
Send a photo of the window for a repair quote
How broken window repair works
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Send a picture
Photograph the broken pane and the frame around it, and add the postcode. -
See the price
We quote for the repair. Go ahead only if you are happy with it. -
Old glass comes out
The pane, putty and pins are removed, and the opening is made secure and measured. -
New glass goes in
The new pane is fitted and finished with putty or beads to match the window.
Why use us for broken window repair
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Repair, not replacement
Only the glass is changed, so your existing window stays in its frame. -
Ring whenever it happens
A person answers the phone 24 hours a day, every day. -
Covered if it has to wait
If the pane must be ordered, the opening is boarded until the glass is ready. -
Photos and invoice supplied
You get pictures of the damage and the repair, with an itemised invoice.
Before and after: what our broken window repair looks like
Looking after new putty
Traditional glazing putty stays soft for a while after it is applied. It forms a skin first and hardens slowly underneath. Avoid pressing on it or cleaning right up to the edge of the glass while it is fresh.
Putty on a timber window is normally painted once it has firmed up, which protects it from the weather. If you want to know when yours will be ready to paint, ask the glazier before they leave.
Safety glass is expected in glazing close to the floor. Our safety glass page explains the types, and we will point it out if it applies to your window.
Related glazing and boarding services
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Emergency glazing
Broken glass measured and replaced by a glazier. -
Double glazed unit replacement
New sealed units fitted into your existing frames. -
Door glass replacement
Glass panels in front, back and patio doors. -
Window boarding
Timber boards fixed over any size of window. -
Toughened and laminated safety glass
The right safety glass for doors and low windows. -
Emergency boarding up
Broken windows and doors made secure, day or night.
We also work for landlords and letting agents, facilities managers, schools and pubs and restaurants. Useful guides: what to do when a window is smashed and can a double glazed unit be replaced without a new frame, or see all guides.
Broken window repair questions
Can a cracked pane be repaired without replacing it?
No. Cracked glass cannot be mended and the crack will usually spread. The repair is a new pane fitted into your existing frame.
Do I need a whole new window?
Usually not. If the frame is sound, only the glass is replaced. If we find rot or rust that would stop the new pane holding, we will show you and talk it through.
Can you match old or patterned glass?
It depends on the pattern. Send us a photo of the glass and we will tell you whether a match is available.
Will the new pane be fitted on the first visit?
It depends on the glass. Anything that has to be made to size is measured first and fitted on a return visit, with the opening boarded in between.
Do you repair windows in metal frames?
Yes. Single panes in metal frames are replaced in much the same way, with the old putty removed and the new glass bedded in.
How much does a broken window repair cost?
It depends on the size of the pane, the type of glass, the frame and how easy the window is to reach. Send a photo and a postcode for a price.
Need a broken pane replaced
Send a photo of the window and the postcode. We will reply with a price for the repair.